Skip to content

The Success Series: How to Leverage Storytelling in Interviews

There are two men in business professional attire sitting across from one another at a table, one who has a book open in front of him as he reads from it

Storytelling in Interviews

In this post, we go over how to leverage storytelling in interviews. If you’ve had an interview for a job before, chances are you’ve been asked many questions, some of which may be behavioral. During interviews, answering the question briefly and to the best of your ability is imperative. 

Categorizing Your Experiences

An animated image of hands sorting colored papers into different colored bins

When I prepare for interviews, I try to compartmentalize my previous roles into different categories. By thinking of 3-5 high-level categories, you can easily come back to them and pick the experience that fits best. In my early prep days, I wrote the categories down on a piece of paper in bright colors so they would be more prominent in my memory. Then, when recalling the details, my first thought would be the color (or category) selection, and could filter from there.

Direct Experience

First, if you have direct experience in a similar situation, use it. Paint a picture for the interviewer, with minimal “fluff”. Storytelling with a real-life example adds authenticity to your answers.

When you have indirect experience, storytelling can come in handy. It can be thought of is, “I haven’t done [x] before, but I have done [y].” This may be stressful but can be used to your advantage if you approach it similarly.

Eventually, the interviewer may ask you a question you don’t have experience with. If this happens, don’t panic. You may pause for a moment, and mention this to your interviewer, before answering. You can also mention while you may not have that specific experience in your past, you are looking to improve your skills.

Using the S.T.A.R. Strategy

Additionally, the S.T.A.R. technique can be utilized to structure your interview answers. S.T.A.R. is an acronym for:

  • Situation: think about a time in your past when you were in a similar position
  • Task: explain your responsibilities
  • Action: what action(s) did you take, and how you handled the situation
  • Result: share the outcome

A S.T.A.R. Example

Here is an example of using the S.T.A.R. method to answer an interview question:

Prompt: tell me about a time when you resolved a conflict.

Answer: When I was working as a waitress at [employer], another waitress would frequently take tables out of turn to get more tips than me in a shift. I spoke with her directly in private to better understand the situation. I learned she was in dire straits financially, and needed extra income. We agreed to give her more tables for a couple of months while she got back on her feet. We are still friends to this day.

Even in the S.T.A.R. format, you can see how I utilized storytelling to answer the question/prompt. It can also be thought of as an “elevator pitch” – concise answers, not tomes, can get your point across clearly and quickly.

Wearing Different Hats

In many jobs, you may be asked to “wear many hats”. What does this mean? It usually means that you may perform tasks or duties that might not necessarily fall under your “hat” (your everyday tasks and responsibilities). You may be asked to “put on another hat” in these situations. When applying to roles in the future, be sure to think back to your experience, especially when you had a few styles in the hat closet. 

While some may find jobs where they can play multiple positions, that’s not the case for everyone. Generally speaking, it isn’t advisable to say that you don’t want “multiple hats” in this prospective role. Instead, opt to mention your desire to specialize in one area or ask clarifying questions. 

A person standing in front of a wall with various different hats and baseball caps hanging on it
A woman in business attire sitting at a table across from a man in a suit, in an interview situation

Telling Your Story

Once you’ve established a few categories to sort your experiences into, it’s time to practice! Practicing how you would respond to certain questions is the best way to prepare for your interview. After you’ve answered a few, it starts to become second nature. Without actively thinking about it, you’ll learn to filter through your categories – highlighting a time in your past when you solved a similar problem.

It’s important to remember there are many ways to answer a question, and there are no “right” answers. If it takes you a moment to think of an example, you can ask the person interviewing you if you may have a minute to think of your response. Remember: storytelling is something that you will need to practice to get the hang of.

Practice Makes (Almost) Perfect

Lastly, practice answering example interview questions. Ideally, you have someone virtually or in person who can ask them in real-time. This way, you can look the part and be fully prepared to field questions about the role you’ve applied for. However, you can ask/answer the questions solo if you don’t want to phone a friend. Ultimately, you want to practice answering questions aloud to get accustomed to the format, especially when preparing for your first interview.

Here are some example questions that you can start with:

  1. Can you tell me about a time when you took initiative?
  2. Can you explain your thought process when problem-solving with a client?
  3. How do you go about capturing business requirements?
  4. What do you do when you have multiple tasks with different levels of urgency: how do you prioritize?
  5. What makes you a good candidate for this role, and why did you apply?

Interview Prep Checklist

Click the icon above to download a free interview preparation checklist. Use this resource to ensure you have the bases covered beforehand, and read more examples of using storytelling in interviews.

In Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned how to categorize your experiences, have practiced answering some interview questions, and have reviewed the job description, it’s time to apply! Put your best foot forward by including your full resume and a cover letter in your application. Remember, storytelling in interviews can be a helpful tool in the toolbox when you’re looking for your next role.

Want more info on how to interview successfully? Check out more from The Success Series here.

Resources & Further Reading

Recent Posts

Want to Learn Even More?

Tags:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *